Burial vault assembly



p 1963 J. N. HOLLIS BURIAL VAULT ASSEMBLY Filed March 50, 1962 INVENTOR. JAMES N. HOLLl s United States Patent Filed Mar. sa, 1962, Set. No. 183,917 2 Claims. c1. 27 ss The present invention relates to a burial vault assembly. Burial vault assemblies previously proposed and presently in use have not been entirely satisfactory in a number of instances due to the lack of a positive sealing means between the lower end of the box-like cover and the base on which the casket rests. Such covers and bases are generally constructed of concrete or the like which is not entirely impervious to the transmission of moisture therethrough. Additionally, the sealing means employed, asphalt, mortar, or the like, between the lower edge of the cover and the base has in a number of instances deteriorated over a period of time and permitted the entry into the vault of destrictive vermin and larvae.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a burial vault assembly which lends itself to long lasting protection of a casket contained therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealing means readily lending itself to the incorporation therein of a material for discouraging entry into the vault of vermin, larvae or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a burial vault assembly which is simple in structure, one which lends itself to manufacture at reasonable cost, and one which is highly efiective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the assembly of the present invention, shown in closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric exploded view showing the assembly in open condition;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of a pontion of the.

base member of the assembly with a portion of the sac overlying the base member portion, prior to the positioning of the casket upon the base member;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the deformation of the sac when a casket is positioned so as to rest upon the base member and prior to the closing of the vault. by the cover or box which extends over the casket;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and on an enlarged scale, showing the further deformation of the sac by the cover or box extending over the casket, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modified form of the invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral 10 designates generally the burial vault assembly of the present invention and which includes a cover or box 12 opened at the lower end and a base member 14 of a configuration and size to exten over and close the open end of the box 12.

The base member 14 includes a raised portion 16 adapted for positioning thereon a casket 18. The marginal edge portion of the base member 14 is provided with a ledge 20 which supports the open end of the box 12 when 3,103,053 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 the latter is positioned over the casket 18. This much of the assembly is of conventional construction and may be fabricated of concrete, metal, or other material by any conventional method of manufacture.

The assembly 10 of the present invention provides a closed. sac 22 superimposed and extending over the base member 14 with the bounding edge portions, as at 24 in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5, projecting beyond the base member 14. When the box 12 is in position overlying the casket 18, the open end of the box 12 engages and is supported upon the bounding edge portions 24 of the sac 22.

A flexible cover 26 extends over the box 12 and has the marginal parts thereof, as at 28, in FIGURE 5, interposed between the open end of the box 12 and the bounding edge portions '24 of the sac 22. A coating such as plastic Or the like may be substituted for the cover 26.

When the sac 22 is fabricated, a quantity of treated fluid is confined within the sac 22, the fluid being selected fnom material which is suitable to repel or poison vermin, larvae, or the like.

As shown in FIGURE 5, when the cover or box 12 is in position overlying the casket 18, the open end of the box 12 deforms. the sac edge portion 24 so as to form a first endless liquid filled tube exteriorly of and. adjacent the open end of the box 12 and a second endless liquid filled tube interiorly of and adjacent the open end of the box 12, the tubes being designated respectively by the numerals 30 and 32.

The sac 22 is fabricated of two sheets of flexible plastic sealed together around the perimeter by suitable sealing means. The cover 26 is also fabricated of flexible plastic and is bonded to the surface of the box 12 by any suitable adhesive found practical.

If found desirable, the ledge 2th and the sac edge portion 24 may also be adhesively secured together and the ledge 29 or the free end of the box 12 provided with means for puncturing the sac 22 so as to permit the gradual escape of the fluid contained therein in order to contaminate the surrounding earth when the base member 14 is supported upon a ground surface and the assembly 10 buried within the earth.

The sac 22 may be fabricated with two separate tube-like compartments if desired. Air, gas, or a drying agent may be employed to fill either the outer compartment or the inner compartment in place of fluid if found practical.

In FIGURE 6 a modified form of the sac is shown at 22'. This form of the invention contemplates having the bounding edge of the sac 22' terminating inwardly of the outer edge of the base member 14. The sac 22' may have a single compartment around its edge or a double compartment, and such compartment or compartments may be filled with fluid, air, gas or other material as above stated with reference to the sac 22.

What is claimed is:

1. In a burial vault assembly, a box open at the lower end, a base member of a configuration and size to extend over and close the open end of said box adapted to rest upon a ground surface, said base member having a casket support portion and a marginal portion extending about the perimeter of said casket support portion for supporting the open end of the box, a closed sac having a quantity of treating fluid confined therein superimposed upon and extending over the casket support portion and the marginal 3 portion with the bounding edge portions projecting beyond the marginal portion, a casket engaging and supported upon the casket support portion of the sac, said box being positioned upon said sac so that it encloses the casket with the open end engaging and supported upon the marginal portion of the sac, the boX Wall being thinner than the width of the [marginal portion of the base member and the inner surface of the box Wall being spaced away from the casket support portion of the base member whereby a space is formed between the casket support portion and the inner surface of the box and the sac is formed into a first endless tube exteriorly of the box 5 marginal portion is in the form of a ledge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,523,851 Althotf Jan. 20, 1925 2,249,283 Brady et al. July 15, 1941 2,691,460 Barnebey Oct. 12, 1954 

1. IN A BURIAL VAULT ASSEMBLY, A BOX OPEN AT THE LOWER END, A BASE MEMBER OF A CONFIGURATION AND SIZE TO EXTEND OVER AND CLOSE THE OPEN END OF SAID BOX ADAPTED TO REST UPON A GROUND SURFACE, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A CASKET SUPPORT PORTION AND A MARGINAL PORTION EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIMETER OF SAID CASKET SUPPORT PORTION FOR SUPPORTING THE OPEN END OF THE BOX, A CLOSED SAC HAVING A QUANTITY OF TREATING FLUID CONFINED THEREIN SUPERIMPOSED UPON AND EXTENDING OVER THE CASKET SUPPORT PORTION AND THE MARGINAL PORTION WITH THE BOUNDING EDGE PORTIONS PROJECTING BEYOND THE MARGINAL PORTION, A CASKET ENGAGING AND SUPPORTED UPON THE CASKET SUPPORT PORTION OF THE SAC, SAID BOX BEING POSITIONED UPON SAID SAC SO THAT IT ENCLOSES THE CASKET WITH THE OPEN END ENGAGING AND SUPPORTED UPON THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE SAC, THE BOX WALL BEING THINNER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE BASE MEMBER AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BOX WALL BEING SPACED AWAY FROM THE CASKET SUPPORT PORTION OF THE BASE MEMBER WHEREBY A SPACE IS FORMED BETWEEN THE CASKET SUPPORT PORTION AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BOX AND THE SAC IS FORMED INTO A FIRST ENDLESS TUBE EXTERIORLY OF THE BOX AND THE BASE MEMBER AND A SECOND ENDLESS TUBE FILLING SAID SPACE. 